A new committee studying planned tuition increases at Kansas University may have less time to do its work than members originally thought.

Members had planned to submit their recommendations at the April meeting of the Kansas Board of Regents. But a schedule sent to students by Provost David Shulenburger this week indicated he would need their input around the first of March, with formal proposals to regents coming in mid-March.

“We were under pressure from the very beginning with it being in April,” said student Dallas Rakestraw, a committee member. “It just turns up the pressure for us. We’ll just have to work faster and harder.”

But Dick Carter, spokesman for the Board of Regents, said there’s still a possibility the tuition proposals and decision could be delayed until May.

Some higher education officials have said legislators could use increased tuition rates to justify university budget cuts to help deal with the state budget shortfall. Waiting until May would put the regents’ decision after the legislative session.

Since last fall, regents and university officials have said their tuition proposals and decision would come in April. The regents have asked each state university to outline its five-year tuition plan.

KU officials said last month that they hoped to combine increases in state funds and tuition to match the average funding of their state-selected peer institutions in the next five years. The plan would require an extra $50 million a year.

Tuition could as much as double under the plan, but the increase would be less if state aid increased. Average in-state tuition and fees for a resident student is $2,884 this semester.

Rakestraw, a junior and student senator, said the newly formed committee, which also includes faculty and staff, plans to meet Tuesday.

“I think there’s been enough of a demonstration from students and I’m sure it won’t stop about the process it’s taken so far,” he said. “Hopefully (administrators) will take us more seriously.”

KU spokeswoman Lynn Bretz said if the regents’ schedule changes, the deadline for input from the committee may change.

“The date may not be firm, but that’s what we have to work with,” she said.

KU may face another challenge around April 1, when financial aid award letters for the fall semester are distributed. Because a tuition increase likely would take effect this fall, officials may have to include two financial aid figures one for current tuition and another if the regents approve the proposed increase.

Meanwhile, both the university and Student Senate are beginning a series of tuition meetings with students. Shulenburger also is discussing tuition with the KU Alumni Association’s board of directors today.